Pocket billiards instructional device

ABSTRACT

Provided is a pocket billiards instructional device including a stand, a target optical head, and an object optical head. The target optical head defines a principal axis and is selectively rotatable thereabout. The target optical head is operative to emit a target optical beam and is attachable to the stand. The object optical head is operative to emit an object optical beam, is selectively rotatable about the principal axis relative to the target optical head and is attachable to the stand.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to billiard games, and moreparticularly, to a uniquely configured pool instructional device andmethodology specifically adapted for illuminating a strike point of anobject ball and illuminating a projected path of the object ball to atarget pocket.

Pocket billiards is a recreational game enjoyed by many people ofvarious ages, interests, and skill levels. As is well known, the objectof pocket billiards is to sink a certain number of object balls intovarious pockets of a pool table using of a cue ball and a cue stick. Inthe course of sinking an object ball, a pool player must understand howto properly aim the cue ball so that it strikes the object ball andcauses the object ball to follow a path towards the target pocket. Asmany may testify, the skill of aiming is often a difficult one to hone.

In developing the skill of aiming the cue ball, a player shouldvisualize the geometric linear relationship between the cue ball, theobject ball and the target hole. Most players understand that whenstruck by the cue ball, the path along which the object ball travels isdependent upon the position on which the object ball is struck. Forexample, a player may know that striking an object ball from the leftcauses the object ball to move to the right, and vice versa.Nevertheless, despite the simplicity of the geometric linearrelationship, the player may realize that the object ball must be struckprecisely in order to achieve a desired result. More specifically, theobject ball will travel along a straight line originating at where thecue ball contacts the object ball and extending through a center of theobject ball.

Applying this principle generally, where the object ball need notrebound from an edge of the pool table to enter the target pocket, theplayer may visualize the straight line passing from the target pocketand through the center of the object ball to a strike point on thesurface of the object ball. It is this strike point that a player musthit when contacting the object ball with the cue ball in order to causethe object ball to enter the target pocket. Thus, according to thismethodology, in order to strike the object ball for a precise result,the player must visualize not only the straight line originating fromthe target pocket through the center of the object ball, but the playermust also visualize the strike point of the object ball.

Included in the prior art are several devices and methods directedtowards aiding a pool player in refining the skill of aiming a cue ball.For example, some prior art devices attach a laser sighting device to acue stick in order to aid the player in visualizing the path of a cueball. Similar inventions place the laser guide inside of the cue stick.Yet other inventions utilize optical mirrors spaced along the edges of apool table in conjunction with the aforementioned laser sighting device.However, applicant is unaware of any device which displays theaforementioned straight line that the object ball must travel inaddition to displaying the strike point of the object ball.

As can be seen, there exists a need in the art for a pool instructionaldevice that accurately indicates the location of the strike point on anobject ball as well as the projected path of the object ball toward thetarget pocket once hit at the strike point. Furthermore, there exists aneed in the art for a pool instructional device configured to provide avisual display of an approach path of the object ball as it approachesthe edge of the pool table and the reflection path of the object ball.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention provided is apocket billiards instructional device. The pocket billiardsinstructional device comprises a stand, a target optical head, and anobject optical head. The target optical head may define a principal axisand may be selectively rotatable thereabout. The target optical head maybe operative to omit a target optical beam and may be attachable to thestand. The object optical head may be operative to emit an objectoptical beam and may be selectively rotatable about the principal axisrelative to the target optical head. The object optical head may beattachable to the stand.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the object optical headmay be independently rotatable about the principal axis. In this regard,the target optical beam may be projectable generally within a targetplane defined by the principal axis and a target pocket sensor point.The target optical beam may be projectable toward a target pocket forilluminating a target path on a pocket billiards table. The target beammay be configured as a laser line. According to another aspect of thepresent invention, the object optical beam may be projectable generallywithin an object plane defined by the principal axis and an object ballcenter ball. Thus the object optical beam may be projectable toward anobject ball for illuminating one of a strike point on the object balland an approach path on the pocket billiards table. The object opticalbeam may be configured as one of the laser line and a laser point.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the targetoptical head may further define a transverse target axis. The transversetarget axis may be oriented orthogonally relative to the target plane.The target optical head may be selectively rotatable about thetransverse target axis. The object optical head may further define atransverse object axis. The transverse object axis may be orientedorthogonally relative to the object plane. The object optical head maybe selectively rotatable about the transverse object axis.

The stand may be a tripod stand. Additionally, according to anotheraspect of the present invention, the stand may be removably attachableto an edge of the pocket billiards table. In this regard, the targetoptical head may include a target angle measuring tool that is operativeto indicate an angle of incidence of the target path relative to areference line, the reference line being oriented orthogonally relativeto the edge of the pocket billiards table. The object optical head mayalso include an object angle measuring tool that is operative toindicate an angle of reflection of the object path relative to thereference line. In this regard, the target optical beam and the objectoptical beam may be lasers. Additionally, the target optical beam may beemitted from a target optical diode disposed within the target opticalhead and the object optical beam may be emitted from an object opticaldiode disposed within the optical head.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of pocketbilliards instruction utilizing a pocket billiards instructional deviceis provided. The method of pocket billiards instruction may be directedtowards illuminating a strike point and a target path of an object balltoward a pocket. As was earlier mentioned, the pocket billiardsinstructional device including a principal axis, a target optical beamand an object optical beam. The target optical beam and the objectoptical beam may be generally coplanar within a target plane defined bythe principal axis and a target pocket center point.

The method of pocket billiards instruction may comprise the steps oflinearly aligning an object ball center point with the target pocketcenter point to define the target path; positioning the pocket billiardsdevice along the target path with the object ball intermediate thepocket billiards instructional device and the target pocket; orientingthe object optical beam toward the strike point of the object ball andtarget optical beam towards the target pocket center point; andilluminating the strike point of the object ball with the object opticalbeam and the target path of the object ball with the target opticalbeam. In this regard, the aligning step may further include utilizingone of the target optical beam and the object optical beam to align theobject ball center point with the target pocket center point.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method ofilluminating an approach path of an object ball towards at least oneedge of a pocket billiards table and illuminating a target path of theobject ball reflecting off of the edge toward a target pocket isprovided. The method may utilize the pocket billiards instructionaldevice including the principal axis and the target optical beam beingselectively rotatable thereabout. The target optical beam is projectedgenerally within a target plane defined by the principal axis and atarget pocket center point. The object optical beam being selectivelyrotatable about the principal axis relative to the target optical headand being projected generally within an object plane defined by theprincipal axis and an object ball center point wherein the object planeintersecting the target plane at the principal axis.

The method may comprise the step of positioning the pocket billiardsinstructional device adjacent the edge of the pocket billiards table;orienting the object optical beam generally toward the object ballcenter point and the target optical beam generally toward the targetpocket center point, the orientation of the object optical beam relativeto a reference line defining an angle of incidence of the approach path.The reference line is oriented orthogonally relative to the edge of thepocket billiards table. The orientation of the target optical beamrelative to the reference line defines an angle of reflection of thetarget path. The angle of incidence is generally equivalent to the angleof reflection. The method includes the steps of illuminating theapproach path of the object ball with the object optical beam andilluminating the target path of the object ball with the target opticalbeam.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the methodmay further include an object angle measuring tool and a target anglemeasuring tool, the object angle measuring tool being operative toindicate the angle of incidence of the approach path relative to thereference line, and the target angle measuring tool being operative toindicate the angle of reflection of the target path relative to thereference line. In this regard, the orienting step may further includeutilizing the object angle measuring tool and a target measuring tool togenerally equate the angle of incidence to the angle of reflection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An illustrative and presently preferred embodiment of the invention isshown in the accompanying drawings (with phantom lines depicting solelyenvironmental structure which forms no part of the claimed device) inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pocket billiards instructional deviceillustrating the relationship of a stand, a target optical head, and anobject optical head;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pocket billiards instructionaldevice as utilized for illuminating a strike point and a target path ofan object ball toward a target pocket; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the pocket billiards instructionaldevice as utilized for illuminating an approach path of the object balltoward an edge of a pocket billiards table and a target path of theobject ball reflecting off of the edge toward a target pocket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes ofillustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention only and notfor purposes of limiting the same, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of apocket billiards instructional device 10 including a stand 12, a targetoptical head 14, and an object optical head 20. The target optical head14 may define a principal axis 16 and may be selectively rotatablethereabout. The target optical head 14 may also be operative to emit atarget optical beam 18 and may be attachable to the stand 12. The objectoptical head 20 may be operative to emit an object optical beam 22 andmay be selectively rotatable about the principal axis 16 relative to thetarget optical head 14.

As shown in FIG. 1, the object optical head 20 may be attachable to thestand 12. It is contemplated that the principal axis 16 may becoincident with the stand 12 as shown in FIG. 1. However it is alsocontemplated that the principal axis 16 may be located distally from thestand 12 in other embodiments. In this regard, it is contemplated thatthe object optical head 20 may be independently rotatable about theprincipal axis 16. Nevertheless, according to one aspect of the presentinvention, the object optical head 20 may rotate about the principalaxis 16 relative only to the target optical head 14. Thus, according toan embodiment of the present invention, the principal axis 16 may becoincident with the stand 12. In this regard, the object optical head 20and the target optical head 14 may be attached to the stand 12 such thatthe target optical head 14 and the object optical head 20 rotate aboutthe stand 12 and the principal axis 16 with the object optical head 20rotating relative to the target optical head 14. It is contemplated thatthis effect may be achieved by rigidly attaching the object optical head20 to the stand 12 with the target optical head 14 being freelyrotatable with respect thereto.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, according to an aspect of the presentinvention, the target optical beam 18 may be projectable generallywithin a target plane 24 defined by the principal axis 16 and a targetpocket center point 26. Additionally, the target optical beam 18 may beprojectable toward a target pocket 28 for illuminating a target path 30on a pocket billiards table 32. In this regard, the target optical beam18 may be configured as a laser line 34. Such a configuration may allowthe projection of a laser line 34 along the full distance of the targetpath 30 toward the target pocket 28. Nevertheless, it is contemplatedthat the target optical beam 18 may be configured in other geometricalconfigurations.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the objectoptical beam 22 may be projectable generally within an object plane 36defined by the principal axis 16 and an object ball center point 38. Theobject optical beam 22 may be projectable toward an object ball 40 forilluminating one of a strike point 42 on the object ball 40 and anapproach path 44 on the pocket billiards table 32. In this regard, theobject optical beam 22 may be configured as one of the laser line 34 andthe laser point 46. It is contemplated that the laser line 34 may be apreferred configuration of the object optical beam 22 when the objectoptical beam 22 is utilized to illuminate an approach path 44 on thepocket billiards table 32. Additionally, when the object optical beam 22illuminates a strike point 42 on the object ball 40, it is contemplatedthat a laser point 46 may be a preferred configuration of the objectoptical beam 22. Nevertheless, it is also contemplated that whenilluminating the strike point 42 on the object ball 40, the objectoptical beam 22 may similarly be configured in the shape of a cross orother geometric configuration to indicate the strike point 42 on theobject ball 40.

Referring again to FIG. 1, in accordance with another aspect of thepresent invention, the target optical head 14 may define a transversetarget axis 48. The transverse target axis 48 may be orientedorthogonally relative to the target plane 24. The target optical head 14may be selectively rotatable about the transverse target axis 48.Additionally, the object optical head 20 may define a transverse objectaxis 50. The transverse object axis 50 may be oriented orthogonallyrelative to the object plane 36. The object optical head 20 may beselectively rotatable about the transverse object axis 50. It iscontemplated that the transverse target axis 48 may intersect with theprincipal axis 16. However, the transverse target axis 48 may be locateddistally from the principal axis 16. In the same regard, it iscontemplated that the transverse object axis 50 may intersect with theprincipal axis 16. However, it is also contemplated that the transverseobject axis 50 may be located distally from the principal axis 16. Inthis regard, it is also contemplated that the target optical head 14 andthe object optical head 20 may be configured with the principal axis 16intersecting with the transverse target axis 48 and the transverseobject axis 50.

According to another aspect of the present invention, it is contemplatedthat the stand 12 may be a tripod stand 52, as shown in FIGS. 1-3.However, it is also contemplated that the stand 12 may be of anyconfiguration such that the pocket billiards instructional device 10 maybe suitably supported and balanced on a pocket billiards table 32 or anedge 54 of a pocket billiards table 32. However, it is contemplated thatthe stand 12 may be attached to a structure located remotely from thepool table. For example, it is contemplated that the stand 12 may beattached to a ceiling above the pool table, and the stand 12 may beconfigured to provide movement of the object optical head 20 and thetarget optical head 14 with a respect to the pool table such that thepocket billiards instructional device 10 may be utilized as disclosedherein. Additionally, it is contemplated that the stand 12 may alsopermit the pocket billiards instructional device 10 to be positionedadjacent the pool table on the ground and likewise permit the pocketbilliards device to be utilized as disclosed herein. The stand 12 mayalso be removably attachable to the edge of the pocket billiards table32. It is contemplated that the stand 12 may connect with a track placedabout the periphery of the pocket billiards table 32 to facilitate theremoval and attachment of the stand 12 to the edge of the pocketbilliards table 32. It is also contemplated that other configurationsmay be utilized to further facilitate the removal and attachment of thestand 12 to the edge of the pocket billiards table 32.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, according to a further aspect of thepresent invention, the target optical head 14 may include a target anglemeasuring tool 56. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the target angle measuringtool 56 may be operative to indicate an angle of incidence 58 of thetarget path 30 relative to a reference line 60 wherein the referenceline 60 is oriented orthogonally relative to the edge of the pocketbilliards table 32. The reference line 60 is an imaginary line thatemanates from the edge at the point where the object ball 40 strikes theedge in order to rebound toward the target pocket 28. It is contemplatedthat the exact location of the reference line 60 may be found throughadjusting the position of the pocket billiards instructional device 10along the edge of the pocket billiards table 32. Additionally, theobject optical head 20 may include an object angle measuring tool 62.The object angle measuring tool 62 may be operative to indicate an angleof reflection 64 of the object path relative to the reference line 60.It is contemplated that the target angle measuring tool 56 and theobject angle measuring tool 62, as shown in FIG. 1, may be a physicalmeasurement of the rotation of the respective ones of the target opticalhead 14 and the object optical head 20 about the principal axis 16.

It is contemplated that the target angle measuring tool 56 and theobject angle measuring tool 62 may provide a digital readout indicationof the respective ones of the angle of incidence 58 and the angle ofreflection 64. Further, it is contemplated that the target anglemeasuring tool 56 and the object angle measuring tool 62 may be rigidlyattachable to the stand 12 such that rotation relative to the stand 12of the respective ones of the target angle measuring tool 56 and theobject angle measuring tool 62 may provide an indication of therespective ones of the angle of incidence 58 and the angle of reflection64. Furthermore, it is also contemplated that the target angle measuringtool 56 and the object angle measuring tool 62 may functioncooperatively to indicate the respective ones of the angle of incidence58 and the angle of reflection 64. Such an embodiment may be utilized ifthe object optical head 20 is rotatable about the principal axis 16relative to the target optical head 14 and the target optical head 14 isrotatable about the principal axis 16. In this regard, the target anglemeasuring tool 56 and the object angle measuring tool 62 may also beintegrally formed.

It is further contemplated that the angle of reflection 64 should equalthe angle of incidence 58 in order to approximate the geometric behaviorof the object ball 40 as it approaches the edge of the pool table andbounces off the edge of the pool table. As mentioned above, the exactpoint of the reference line 60 may be found by adjusting the position ofthe pool instructional device along the edge of the pocket billiardstable 32. When the angle of incidence 58 is equal to the angle ofreflection 64, as shown through geometry, the object ball 40 may reflectoff of the edge and rebound toward the target pocket 28. It iscontemplated that the target angle measuring tool 56 and the objectangle measuring tool 62 may be configured to properly indicate the angleof incidence 58 of the target path 30 relative to the reference line 60.

It is contemplated that the target optical beam 18 and the objectoptical beam 22 may be lasers. Nevertheless, it is also contemplatedthat the target optical beam 18 and the object optical beam 22 may alsobe other visible beams suitable for the pocket billiards instructionaldevice 10 disclosed herein. According to an aspect of the presentinvention, the target optical beam 18 may be emitted from a target laserdiode 66 disposed within the target optical head 14. Additionally, theobject optical beam 22 may be emitted from an object laser diode 68disposed within the object optical head 20. Nevertheless, it is alsocontemplated that the object optical beam 22 and the target optical beam18 may be derived from a common laser source. Such an embodiment mayutilize an optical switch or other device in order to provide a duallaser output from a single source.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, according to another aspect of the presentinvention, a method of pocket billiards instruction utilizing a pocketbilliards instructional device 10 for illuminating a strike point 42 anda target path 30 of an object ball 40 toward a target pocket 28 isprovided. The pocket billiards instructional device 10 may include aprincipal axis 16, a target optical beam 18 and an object optical beam22. The target optical beam 18 and the object optical beam 22 may begenerally coplanar within a target plane 24 defined by the principalaxis 16 and the target pocket center point 26. The method may includethe steps of linearly aligning an object ball center point 38 with thetarget pocket center point 26 to define the target path 30; positioningthe pocket billiards instructional device 10 along the target path 30with the object ball 40 intermediate the pocket billiards instructionaldevice 10 and the target pocket 28; orienting the object optical beam 22toward the strike point 42 of the target ball and the target opticalbeam 18 toward the target pocket center point 26; and illuminating thestrike point 42 of the target ball with the object optical beam 22 andthe target path 30 of the object ball 40 with the target optical beam18. Although an aspect of the present invention provides for exactgeometries, it is contemplated that the alignment, positioning, andorienting steps may be executed with precision approximating the exactgeometric requirements contemplated by an aspect of the presentinvention.

It is also contemplated that the method may further include utilizingone of the target optical beam 18 and the object optical beam 22 toalign the object ball center point 38 with the target pocket centerpoint 26. In this regard, it is also contemplated that the object ballcenter point 38 and the target pocket center point 26 may be visuallyaligned to define the target path 30. Additionally, it is alsocontemplated that the pocket billiards instructional device 10 may belocated either proximate or distal to the object ball 40 according tothe preferences of a pool player utilizing the pocket billiardsinstructional device 10. In this regard, as is mentioned above, thepocket billiards instructional device 10 may be configured to allow thestand 12 to provide versatile and remote attachment of the pocketbilliards instructional device 10 so as to facilitate the movement ofthe pool player when attempting to play pool.

As illustrated now in FIG. 3, in accordance with a further aspect of thepresent invention, a method of illuminating an approach path 44 of anobject ball 40 toward at least one edge of a pocket billiards table 32and a target path 30 of an object ball 40 reflecting off of the edgetoward a target pocket 28 is provided. The method may utilized a pocketbilliards instructional device 10 including an principal axis 16 and atarget optical beam 18 being selectively rotatable thereabout, thetarget optical beam 18 being projectable generally within a target plane24 defined by the principal axis 16 and a target pocket center point 26,an object optical beam 22 being selectively rotatable about theprincipal axis 16 relative to the target optical head 14, the objectoptical beam 22 being projectable generally within an object plane 36defined by the principal axis 16 and an object ball center point 38, theobject plane 36 intersecting the target plane 24 at the principal axis16.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the method mayinclude the step of positioning the pocket billiards instructionaldevice 10 adjacent the pocket billiards table 32; orienting the objectoptical beam 22 generally toward the object ball center point 38 and thetarget optical beam 18 generally toward the target pocket center point26, the orientation of the object optical beam 22 relative to areference line 60 defining an angle if incidence of the approach path44, the reference line 60 being oriented orthogonally relative to theedge of the pocket billiards table 32, the orientation of the targetoptical beam 18 relative to the reference line 60 defining an angle ofreflection 64 of the target path 30, the angle of incidence 58 beinggenerally equal to the angle of reflection 64; illuminating the approachpath 44 of the object ball 40 with the object optical beam 22; andilluminating the target path 30 of the object ball 40 with the targetoptical beam 18.

It is contemplated that the pocket billiards instructional device 10 maybe configured to facilitate the attachment and removal of the devicefrom the edge of the pocket billiards table 32. However, it is alsocontemplated that the pocket billiards instructional device 10 may bepositioned adjacent the edge of the pocket billiards table 32 with thestand 12 of the pocket billiards instructional device 10 supported on afloor adjacent the pocket billiards table 32. It is contemplated that inpositioning the pocket billiards instructional device 10 adjacent theedge of the pocket billiards table 32, the principal axis 16 of thepocket billiards instructional device 10 is oriented orthogonallyrelative to the pocket billiards table 32 and tangentially to the edgeof the pocket billiards table 32. In this regard, the pocket billiardsinstructional device 10 may indicate with greater exactness the approachpath 44 and the target path 30 of the object ball 40 as it reflects offof the edge of the pocket billiards table 32.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the pocketbilliards instructional device 10 may further include an object anglemeasuring tool 62 and a target angle measuring tool 56, the object anglemeasuring tool 62 being operative to indicate the angle of incidence 58of the approach path 44 relative to the reference line 60, the targetangle measuring tool 56 being operative to indicate the angle ofreflection 64 of the target path 30 relative to the reference line 60,and the method may further include utilizing the object angle measuringtool 62 and the target angle measuring tool 56 to generally equate theangle of incidence 58 to the angle of reflection 64.

This description of the various embodiments of the present invention ispresented to illustrate the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention, and other inventive concepts may be otherwise variouslyembodied and employed. The appended claims are intended to be construedto include such variations except insofar as limited by the prior art.

1. A pocket billiards instructional device comprising: a. a stand; b. atarget optical head defining a principal axis and being selectivelyrotatable thereabout, the target optical head being operative to emit atarget optical beam and being attachable to the stand; and c. an objectoptical head being operative to emit an object optical beam and beingselectively rotatable about the principal axis relative to the targetoptical head, the object optical head being attachable to the stand. 2.The device of claim 1 wherein the object optical head is rotatable aboutthe principal axis independent of the rotation of the target opticalhead.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein the target optical beam isprojectable generally within a target plane defined by the principalaxis and a target pocket center point, the target optical beam beingprojectable toward a target pocket for illuminating a target path on apocket billiards table.
 4. The device of claim 3 wherein the targetoptical beam is configured as a laser line.
 5. The device of claim 3wherein the object optical beam is projectable generally within anobject plane defined by the principal axis and an object ball centerpoint, the object optical beam being projectable toward an object ballfor illuminating one of a strike point on the object ball and anapproach path on the pocket billiards table.
 6. The device of claim 5wherein the object optical beam is emitted as one of the laser line anda laser point.
 7. The device of claim 5 wherein the target optical headfurther defines a transverse target axis being oriented orthogonallyrelative to the target plane, the target optical head being selectivelyrotatable about the transverse target axis.
 8. The device of claim 7wherein the object optical head further defines a transverse object axisbeing oriented orthogonally relative to the object plane, the objectoptical head being selectively rotatable about the transverse objectaxis
 9. The device of claim 8 wherein the stand is a tripod stand. 10.The device of claim 8 wherein the stand is removably attachable to anedge of the pocket billiards table.
 11. The device of claims 8 or 10wherein the target optical head includes a target angle measuring toolbeing operative to indicate an angle of incidence of the target pathrelative to a reference line, the reference line being orientedorthogonally relative to the edge of the pocket billiards table, theobject optical head including an object angle measuring tool operativeto indicate an angle of reflection of the object path relative to thereference line.
 12. The device of claim 11 wherein the target opticalbeam and the object optical beam are lasers.
 13. The device of claim 12wherein the target optical beam is emitted from a target laser diodedisposed within the target optical head and the object optical beam isemitted from an object laser diode disposed within the object opticalhead.
 14. A method of pocket billiards instruction utilizing a pocketbilliards instructional device for illuminating a strike point and atarget path of an object ball toward a target pocket, the pocketbilliards instructional device including a principal axis, a targetoptical beam and an object optical beam, the target optical beam and theobject optical beam being generally coplanar within a target planedefined by the principal axis and a target pocket center point, themethod comprising: a. linearly aligning an object ball center point withthe target pocket center point to define the target path; b. positioningthe pocket billiards instructional device along the target path with theobject ball being positioned intermediate the pocket billiardsinstructional device and the target pocket; c. orienting the objectoptical beam toward the strike point of the object ball and the targetoptical beam toward the target pocket center point; and d. illuminatingthe strike point of the object ball with the object optical beam and thetarget path of the object ball with the target optical beam.
 15. Themethod of claim 14 wherein step (a) further includes utilizing one ofthe target optical beam and the object optical beam to align the objectball center point with the target pocket center point.
 16. A method ofilluminating an approach path of an object ball toward at least one edgeof a pocket billiards table and a target path of the object ballreflecting off of the edge toward a target pocket utilizing a pocketbilliards instructional device including a principal axis and a targetoptical beam being selectively rotatable thereabout, the target opticalbeam being projectable generally within a target plane defined by theprincipal axis and a target pocket center point, an object optical beambeing selectively rotatable about the principal axis relative to thetarget optical head, the object optical beam being projectable generallywithin an object plane defined by the principal axis and an object ballcenter point, the object plane intersecting the target plane at theprincipal axis, the method comprising: a. positioning the pocketbilliards instructional device adjacent the edge of the pocket billiardstable; b. orienting the object optical beam generally toward the objectball center point and the target optical beam generally toward thetarget pocket center point, the orientation of the object optical beamline defining an angle of incidence of the approach path orientedorthogonally relative to the edge of the pocket billiards table, theorientation of the target optical beam relative to the reference linedefining an angle of reflection of the target path, the angle ofincidence being generally equal to the angle of reflection; c.illuminating the approach path of the object ball with the objectoptical beam; and d. illuminating the target path of the object ballwith the target optical beam.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein thepocket billiards instructional device further includes an object anglemeasuring tool and a target angle measuring tool, the object anglemeasuring tool being operative to indicate the angle of incidence of theapproach path relative to the reference line, the target angle measuringtool being operative to indicate the angle of reflection of the targetpath relative to the reference line, wherein step (b) further includesutilizing the object angle measuring tool and the target angle measuringtool to generally equate the angle of incidence to the angle ofreflection.